Multi-color gemstone coating technology

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a gemstone comprising a table, a crown and a pavilion. Certain areas of the surfaces of the gemstone are coated with at least one layer of multi-color thin film comprising at least two (2) types of metallic compounds. A layer of DLC protective coating is deposited on top of the multi-color thin film. The said multi-color thin film can be deposited on the table of the gemstone, the table and crown of the gemstone, on certain areas of the pavilion, or on all surfaces of the gemstone. The deposition of the multi-color thin film can be achieved through several low temperature vapor-coating techniques such as sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD), ARC Source deposition, PLD, and MED.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention provides multi-color coating for gemstones. Particularly,this invention provides a way to impart multi-color coating to varioussurfaces of gemstones through multi-color thin films which includes atleast two types of metallic compound. Additionally, a layer of DLCprotective coating will be place over the multi-color thin film.

BACKGROUND

There are various gemstones in today's jewelry market. Some may be foundin nature and some may be artificially made. Naturally occurringgemstones include but are not limited to rubies, sapphires, emeralds,and diamonds. Artificially made gemstones include but are not limited tocubic zirconium and moissanite stones. Prior to entering the jewelrymarket, gemstones are typically cut to a desired shapes and mounted to avariety of types of settings such as ring, necklace or bracelet.

However, gemstones whether naturally occurring or artificially madeoften do have the desired colors that are popular on today's jewelrymarket. Additionally, the surface of the gemstones can be easilyscratched or worn over time thus reducing the radiance andattractiveness of the precious stones.

As a result, many methods and processes have been developed by thegemstone manufacturing industry to alter and protect the appearance ofthe gemstones by coating the gemstone with thin film coatings that addscolors to the gemstones through optical absorption or thin films thatprovides protections to the surface of the gemstones. A number ofinventions imparting colors and to provide protective coating to thegemstones haven been patented.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,422 discloses a process for imparting colors tocolorless gemstone and enhancing color for paler gemstones or coloredgemstones. Specifically, the process comprising coating the gemstonewith one or more color inducing/enhancing materials in the form of athin film and subjecting the coated gemstone to heat treatment at atemperature in the range of about 7000 Celsius up to about 12000 Celsiusfor a time in the range of about 30 minutes to about 10 hours in air oran oxidizing atmosphere to obtain a colored gemstone. However, using thedisclosed process, in order to have multiple colors to be imparted onthe gemstone, multiple layers of thin films of different colors must bedeposited on the gemstone. This process increases time of manufacturing,and the thickness of layers on the gemstones. Additionally, the processhas to be done at very high temperature.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,275 B2 also discloses coatings that impart desirablecolor in gemstones. Specifically, the patent discloses a coating that isa discrete coating on the gemstone such that the body of the gemstone issubstantially free of diffused material from said coating, said coatingbeing born only on the pavilion of the gemstone, wherein the pavilion ofthe gemstone defines a culet and said coating has a thickness that isgreatest adjacent the culet and becomes generally thinner withincreasing distance from the culet, said coating including a highabsorption layer of film that is highly absorptive of visible radiationsuch that the desired uniform body color is imparted in the gemstone,wherein over the high absorption layer of film there is deposited alayer comprising a material selected from the group consisting oftitanium and silicon. Again, the disclosed gemstone comprises a singlelayer thin film comprising only one color, and the thin film is coatedon the selected areas on the pavilion of the gemstone.

U.S. Pat. No. 7526928 B1 discloses a gemstone having an appearancecharacterized by at least two different color zones, where such twozones are of different colors. In other embodiment of the gemstone, twodifferent areas of a single gemstone carry coatings of differentcomposition, and the resulting appearance of the gemstone ischaracterized by the stone exhibiting substantially a single uniformbody color that is different than the body color the stone would exhibitif it were coated only with one or the other of the coatings.Specifically, the patent claims a gemstone having a table and apavilion, wherein a first coating is on a first area of the pavilion anda second coating is on a second area of the pavilion, wherein the firstand second coatings are of different composition, and wherein the tabledefines an uncoated surface, the pavilion having an overlap areacharacterized by a mixture of both the first and second coatings, andwherein on opposite sides of the overlap area there are areasrespectively carrying substantially only the first coating andsubstantially only the second coating. The disclosed gemstones mustconsist two types of layers each comprise a single color. However, themulti-color effect of the coating is produced by having at least twotypes of thin film layers strategically placed on different locations onthe gemstone. Each of such layer comprising only one color.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,056,363 B1 discloses a method for providing a protectivecoating and enhanced optical qualities to a gemstone. The methodincludes coating a first portion and a second portion of a gemstone withTiO2 doped. with calcium oxide (TiO2+). The TiO2+ coated gemstone isnext coated with a diamond like carbon (DLC) coating. The gemstone maybe synthetic or natural. The composite gemstone, having been coated withboth TiO2 and DLC, exhibits high refractivity and enhanced wearresistance and color. Although this patent discloses a protective DLCcoating and a color coating, its color coating is still a single layerof thin film that comprises only one color.

What is needed is a gemstone with one coat of multi-color thin film thatcomprises multiple colors. Additionally, the gemstone should comprise atleast one DLC layer to protect the gemstone from wear and tear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention is to provide a gemstonecomprising: a table, a crown and a pavilion; wherein the table of thegemstone is coated. with at least one layer of multi-color thin filmcomprising at least two (2) types of metallic materials, and wherein thea layer of DLC protective coating is deposited on top of the multi-colorthin film.

It is another aspect of the present invention is to provide a gemstonecomprising: a table, a crown and a pavilion; wherein the table and thecrown of the gemstone are coated with at least one layer of multi-colorthin film comprising at least two (2) types of metallic materials, andwherein the a layer of DLC protective coating is deposited on top of themulti-color thin film.

It is another aspect of the present invention is to provide a gemstonecomprising: a table, a crown and a pavilion; wherein all surfaces of thegemstone are coated with at least one layer of multi-color thin filmcomprising at least two (2) types of metallic materials, and wherein thea layer of DLC protective coating is deposited on top of the multi-colorthin film.

The deposition of the multi-color thin film can be achieved throughseveral low temperature vapor-coating techniques such as sputtering,chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and physical vapor deposition (PVD), ARCSource deposition, PLD, and MED.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present device, as well as thestructure and operation of various embodiments of the present device,will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription or the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing of which;

FIG. 1 is a diagram of gemstone comprising a table, a crown, and apavilion.

FIG. 2 is flowchart of the gemstone coating process comprising providinga gemstone, providing a multi-color thin film, coating the table of thegemstone with multi-color thin film, and coating the table of thegemstone with DLC.

FIG. 3 is flowchart of the gemstone coating process comprising providinga gemstone, providing a multi-color thin film, coating the pavilion ofthe gemstone with multi-color thin film, and coating the table of thegemstone with DLC.

FIG. 4A is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the invention whereinthe gemstone is coated with a single layer of multi-color thin film.

FIG. 4B is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the invention whereinthe gemstone is coated with a single layer of multi-color thin film anda single layer of DLC.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the inventionwherein the table, crown, and the pavilion of the gemstone are coatedwith a single layer of multi-color thin film.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the inventionwherein the table, crown, and the pavilion of the gemstone are coatedwith multi-color thin film, and the table of the gemstone is coated witha layer of DLC.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the inventionwherein the table, crown, and the pavilion of the gemstone are coatedwith a single layer of multi-color thin film, and a layer of DLC.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description, In the description, relativeterms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,”“below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof(e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should beconstrued to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown inthe drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenienceof description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed oroperated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments,coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” referto a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to oneanother either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, aswell as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unlessexpressly described otherwise.

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout.

Gemstone coating can be achieved by various methods. Many of thesemethods employ low temperatures so as not to affect the gemstone otherthan to coat its surface. For the present invention, the low temperatureis preferably less than about 200 degrees Celsius. There are several lowtemperature vapor-coating techniques such as sputtering, chemical vapordeposition (CVD) a physical vapor deposition (PVD), ARC Sourcedeposition, PLD, and MED.

Sputtering is a process whereby atoms are ejected from a solid targetmaterial due to bombardment of the target by energetic particles. It iswidely used by the gemstone manufacturing industry for thin-filmdeposition.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a chemical process used to producehigh-purity, high-performance solid materials. In a typical CVD process,the wafer (substrate) is exposed to one or more volatile precursors,which react and/or decompose on the substrate surface to produce thedesired deposit.

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is a general term used to describe avariety of methods to deposit thin films by the condensation of avaporized form of the desired film material onto various workpiecesurfaces. The coating method involves purely physical processes such ashigh temperature vacuum evaporation with subsequent condensation, orplasma sputter bombardment rather than involving a chemical reaction atthe surface to be coated as in chemical vapor deposition.

Arc Source deposition is the use of direct current to ionize coatingmaterials for coating a substrate. The arc may be directly applied bymaking the substrate a workpiece anode. Alternatively, a plasma jet ofexcited gases may be applied to the surface of the substrate or gemstoneto coat it. In evaporation, two or more sources of particles are aimedat a heated substrate.

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is one unique type of PVD technique wherea high power pulsed laser beam is focused inside a vacuum chamber tostrike a target of the material that is to be deposited. This materialis vaporized from the target (in a plasma plume) which deposits it as athin film on a substrate (such as a silicon wafer facing the target).This process can occur in ultra high vacuum or in the presence of abackground gas, such as oxygen which is commonly used when depositingoxides to fully oxygenate the deposited films.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) exists in seven different forms of amorphouscarbon materials that display some of the typical properties of diamond.They are usually applied as coatings to other materials that couldbenefit from some of those properties.

The present invention utilize those coating technologies and depositthin films coating containing at least two types of metallic compoundover the gemstone thus giving the gemstone a multi-color appearance. Theresulting gemstone, when viewed from different angle, will appeardifferently in colors and hues. Such gemstone will have more aestheticand attractive appearance.

Additionally, the present invention also discloses a gemstone with a DLCcoating to protect the multi-color coating to preserve theattractiveness of the gemstone for a longer period of time.

Further features and advantages of the present device, as well as thestructure and operation of various embodiments of the present device,will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription or the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing of which;

FIG. 1 is a diagram of gemstone 100 comprising a table 101, a crown 102,and. a pavilion 103. The table 101 of the gemstone 100 is typicallyflat. The pavilion 103 of the gemstone 100 very often comes in contactwith the setting (not shown in drawing) of the jewelry in which thegemstone 100 is embedded in. Because the table 101 of the gemstone istypically exposed from the setting, it will be the most visible part ofthe gemstone 100. However, due to the exposure, the table 101 of thegemstone is also the most susceptible to wear and tear of daily uses.

FIG. 2 is flowchart of the gemstone coating process comprising providinga gemstone, providing a multi-color thin film, coating the table of thegemstone with multi-color thin film, and coating the table of thegemstone with DLC. The table of the gemstone is typically exposed toview from the jewelry setting. Therefore, by coating the table of thegemstone with multi-color thin film, the gemstone will obtain a moreattractive appearance. The DLC coating on top of the multi-color thinfilm coating with help preserve the attractiveness of the gemstone byshielding the multi-color layer from wear and tear. Multi-color thinfilm can comprise at least two (2) types of metallic compounds. Thosemetallic compounds can comprise Ni, Ti, Zn, Cr, Mg, Nb, Sn, Al, In, Fe,ZrAl, Zr, AlSi, Si, Cu, Ta, Ge, Ag, Co, Au, Gd, La, Y, Ce, Stainlesssteel, NiCr, Hf, Mo, FeNi, W.

FIG. 3 is flowchart of the gemstone coating process comprising providinga gemstone, providing a multi-color thin film, coating the pavilion ofthe gemstone with multi-color thin film, and coating the table of thegemstone with DLC. Although, the pavilion of the gemstone is oftenembedded in the setting of the jewelry, coating the pavilion of thegemstone is another way of adding and enhancing colors to the gemstone.

FIG. 4A is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the invention whereinthe gemstone 100 is coated with a single multi-color thin film 101. Themulti-color thin film 201 is deposited directly on top of the table 101.The gemstone, when view from different angles, will appear in differentcolors. This unique appearance will enhance the attractiveness of thestone.

FIG. 4B is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the invention whereinthe gemstone 100 is coated with a single multi-color thin film 201 and asingle layer of DLC 202. The multi-color thin film 201 is depositeddirectly on top of the table 101. The layer of DLC 202 is depositeddirectly on top of the multi-color thin film 201. Having a layer of DLC202 will protect the table 101 of the gemstone 100 from wear and tearthus preserving the multi-color thin film 201 for a longer period oftime.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the inventionwherein the table 101, crown 102, and the pavilion 103 of the gemstone100 are coated with one layer of multi-color thin film 401. The coatingcan be deposited on certain areas of the table 101, crown 102, andpavilion 103 strategically according to the refractive angles of thegemstone but does not cover the entire gemstone.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the inventionwherein the table 101, crown 102, and the pavilion 103 of the gemstoneare coated with multi-color thin film 501, and the table 101 and crown102 of the gemstone are coated with a layer of DLC 502. The layer of DLC502 on the table 101 and crown 102 will help preserve the gemstone 100for a longer period of time by protecting.

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the inventionwherein the table 101, crown 102, and the pavilion 103 of the gemstone100 are coated with multi-color thin film 601, and a layer of DLC 602.The multi-color thin film 601 is first deposited on all surfaces of thegemstone. A layer of DLC 602 is then deposited on he top of themulti-color thin film 601 on all surfaces of the gemstone to provideprotection to the gemstone 100.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gemstone comprising: a table, a crown and apavilion; wherein at least one layer of multi-color thin film comprisingat least two (2) types of metallic compounds is deposited on the tableof the gemstone.
 2. The gemstone as recited in claim 1, wherein saidmulti-color thin film is deposited through Sputtering.
 3. The gemstoneas recited in claim 1, wherein said multi-color thin film is depositedthrough chemical vapor deposition.
 4. The gemstone as recited in claim1, wherein said multi-color thin film is deposited through ARC sourcedeposition
 5. The gemstone as recited in claim 1, wherein saidmulti-color thin film is deposited through pulsed laser deposition. 6.The gemstone as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one layer of DLC isdeposited on top of the multi-color thin film.
 7. A gemstone comprising:a table, a crown and a pavilion; wherein at least one layer ofmulti-color thin film comprising at least two (2) types of metalliccompounds is deposited on the table and crown of the gemstone.
 8. Thegemstone as recited in claim 7, wherein said multi-color thin film isdeposited through Sputtering.
 9. The gemstone as recited in claim 7,wherein said multi-color thin film is deposited through chemical vapordeposition.
 10. The gemstone as recited in claim 7, wherein saidmulti-color thin film is deposited through ARC source deposition
 11. Thegemstone as recited in claim 7, wherein said multi-color thin film isdeposited through pulsed laser deposition.
 12. The gemstone as recitedin claim 7, wherein at least one layer of DLC is deposited on top of themulti-color thin film.
 13. A gemstone comprising: a table, a crown and apavilion; wherein at leas one layer of multi-color thin film comprisingat least two (2) types of metallic compounds is deposited on thepavilion of the gemstone.
 14. The gemstone as recited in claim 13,wherein said multi-color thin film is deposited through Sputtering. 15.The gemstone as recited in claim 13, wherein said multi-color thin filmis deposited through chemical vapor deposition.
 16. The gemstone asrecited in claim 13, wherein said multi-color thin film is depositedthrough ARC source deposition
 17. The gemstone as recited in claim 13,wherein said multi-color thin film is deposited through pulsed laserdeposition.
 18. The gemstone as recited in claim 13, wherein saidmulti-color thin film is deposited only on certain areas of thepavilions.
 19. The gemstone as recited in claim 13, wherein at least onelayer of DLC is deposited on top of the multi-color thin film.